State Teacher Policy Database

2017

Explore NCTQ data and analysis of state laws, rules, and regulations that shape the teaching profession- from teacher preparation, licensing, and evaluation to compensation, professional development, and dismissal policies.

The 2017 Yearbook evaluates states against nine policy goals with this year's edition adding areas to reflect teacher diversity initiatives, principal evaluation and support systems, and state support for teacher leadership opportunities. The National Average in this year's Yearbook was a C-, with Florida and Louisiana receiving the highest grades (B+).

A Step Back

This year's Yearbook saw the most states' grades decline from the previous Yearbook than ever before, with roughly half of all states' grades remaining unchanged.

Bright Spots

There were some bright spots in the 2017 Yearbook. In the policy areas governing the structure of student teaching, providing more levels of ratings for evaluating teachers, and ramping up the quality of principal evaluations, a number of states moved the ball forward.

Texas's Overall Grade

Utah's Overall Grade

Virginia's Overall Grade

Vermont's Overall Grade

Washington's Overall Grade

C-

2015: C-

2013: C-

2011: C-

Wisconsin's Overall Grade

D+

2015: D

2013: D+

2011: D

West Virginia's Overall Grade

C+

2015: C-

2013: C-

2011: D+

Wyoming's Overall Grade

D

2015: D

2013: D

2011: D

2017 National Summary

NCTQ's bi-annual 2017 State Teacher Policy Yearbook grades states on how well their programs and policies raise the quality of the teachers in their schools. The 2017 Yearbook evaluates states against nine policy areas, with this year's edition including, for the first time, information to reflect teacher diversity initiatives, principal evaluation and support systems, and state support for teacher leadership opportunities. For all 50 states and the District of Columbia, NCTQ produces a customized summary that provides state policy strengths and opportunities for improvement.